Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve - we have so many reasons to celebrate this season. Jacob is super excited and Jonathan is perfectly content playing with all the shiny ribbon. We've been counting down the days until Jesus's birthday and it's almost here. We're making cupcakes for Jesus and Uncle Jerry - HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY!!! I think we'll leave one for Santa tonight. Hope he likes cupcakes...

In the words of my sweet little Jacob "nanny pimpus" - that's merry christmas in his world. It's so strange - most of his words are so close, but he's been saying pimpus since the beginning - we have pimpus trees, pimpus presents, pimpus lights...it's really cute!

NANNY PIMPUS everyone!

conversations with a two year old

Jacob is getting so big. He can carry on conversations now and it is just precious. Here's a recent example - one I want to remember forever. We were laying down getting ready for nite nite time (yes, one of us lays down with him for a while now...part of our ongoing struggle to get some good sleep in this house!) and the following conversation ensued:
mommy - "Jacob, you know how much mommy and daddy love you?"
jacob - "oh yes, I wuv oo more." followed by a big smooch
mommy - "thank you, that was sweet."
jacob - "oh yes"
mommy - "you know who else loves you? Jesus loves you very much. On Christmas we'll celebrate his birthday."
jacob - "make cake"
mommy - " sure we can. Good idea. Did you know that Jesus can live in your heart? One day when you get big and big, we hope you will ask Jesus to live in your heart."
jacob - lifts up his shirt and says "Jesus mine heart."
mommy - "that's right - when Jesus lives in your heart, He helps you make good choices and be a good boy and love other people."
jacob - "jacob good boy. Jesus in heart. Santa bring Mickey sheets good boys." (earlier we had talked about Santa bringing him special Mickey Mouse sheets and a pillow for his bed if he is a good boy.)

This was the most precious thing - he worked so hard to put all the words together. What a special memory. I really do pray that he chooses to ask Jesus to live in his heart one day and love Him with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.

I'll always remember

Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs in the world...once upone a time, I was a part of a group that did a PSA and that was our tag line. Back then, I was pregnant with Jacob - now, that I have two little critters, I really know how true this is. We're still struggling with our big boy at nite nite time. This past weekend was HORRIBLE! Thanks to Katie for keeping me company last night and being my moral support. :-)As bad as it is, I feel like God is teaching me something BIG. Don't know what it is, but I know it's something. I feel so selfish - Jacob has refused to go to bed the last three nights and has wound up in our bed. We just call it quits and turn off all the lights. Not that him being in our bed helps - he sleeps, but we don't. He's got to be the most restless little person on the planet. The no sleeping thing is really wearing me thin and I complain that I can't get anything done - I can't wrap presents, I can't make blankets (yes, I'm making some of our Christmas presents), I can't just veg out and watch TV, I can't spend any alone time with my husband, I can't snuggle... boy, there's a lot of I's in those statements. God reminded me yesterday that life really isn't about me or my agenda - it's about putting Him first and serving others - even my children. I found my self in the church nursery watching all the little kiddos - it wasn't even my week to volunteer, so at first I was grumpy, but then God showed me how selfish I was being and reminded me to smile to show the love of Jesus to those precious children.

I had the best reminder of how great it is to be a mommy this morning - I was holding Jonathan and Jacob crawled up in my lap and brought me a book and said "mommy read me." Well, for you sappy moms like me, you'll understand...the book was "Love you Forever." If you can honestly read that one without a tear in your eye, you're my hero. I read it, choked on most of the pages and had a big tear in my eye. Jacob looked at me and said "why mommy sad?" I held him close and whispered "mommy's not sad, mommy's so grateful that I just get emotional." I'm sure he didn't understand that, but he gave me a big smooch and hurried about his business. I was sitting there thanking God for speaking to me through the smallest creatures and the pages of a wonderful book about never-ending love.

I love my kids. I love my husband. I love my life. I love my God. Nothing else in this world matters!!!

Never ending fun!

We had our annual "Hanging of the Greens" service at church on Sunday. Billy and I both really love this service. We decided to take both of our boys this time - Jacob usually goes in the nursery, but we wanted him to hear the music and help light the church tree. He was so cute - a little loud (which embarrassed me a lot - but everyone told me it was cute.) At one time, after a song, he said "WOW" really loud. Then, he was working on a puzzle I'd brought for him and he said "where's this piece go mommy?" really loud.

The cutest thing he did was during a prayer. We told him it was time to talk to Jesus and he closed his eyes really tight and clasped his hands and was squinting. Words really don't do it justice...he almost looks like he's trying to grunt real hard or something. It is SO funny. Amy, Jerry, Lauren and Taylor went with us and we were all laughing so hard our pew was shaking a little!

Jacob couldn't be out done though. Jonathan was pretty content. He loves paper so we gave him the service program. We looked down and a big chunk was gone - slobbery remains were all that was left. I sure hope kids can't get hurt or sick from eating paper! (and I hope Social Services isn't reading this blog.)

Oh how funny! Seriously, though...I'm so thankful Jacob is beginning to learn about Jesus. We try to show them both how much Jesus loves them. We pray that we'll be good examples to them and that tyhe will learn about the never-ending love of our Savior and will one day choose to follow Him with their whole heart. That's our prayer for both our sweet boys!

Favorite Things

Being a mom is a true joy. Now, I know I complain about not getting any sleep - it's bad - so bad...but, I love being a mom. Here's a few of my most favorite moments with my boys:

* the moment right after Jonathan finishes eating his last feeding. He falls asleep nursing and is so sweet and content laying on my shoulder. I could hold him and listen to him breathe in my ear all night.
* when I walk into the nursery on Sunday mornings to pick up the boys - Jacob has the biggest, most sincere smile and runs right into my arms
* the first moment I see Jonathan each morning - that smile he gives when I pop my head over his crib is priceless
* singing songs with Jacob - he fills in words as I sing - it's so cute. Here's an example:
I sing "you are my" and Jacob says "sunshine" me - "my only" Jacob " sunshine" - it really is so cute. He does it to the alphabet song, twinkle twinkle, How Great Is our God and Jesus Loves Me.
* watching Jonathan trying intently to conquer something - picking up a flat toy, reaching something just a little to far for him, getting something right to his mouth the first time
* hearing Jacob say "friend ever" - he says this when I ask him if he'll be my friend forever

Big Boy Bed = Big Bad Trouble!!!

Of all the milestones we've faced so far in Jacob's 2 years, the transition to the big boy bed has most definitely been challenging. I mean awful, terrible...you get the drift. Jacob showed readiness for a big boy bed back in August when he successfully became a climbing money and could get out of his crib in about 1.5 seconds. Seriously - he could get out of that thing before you reached his bedroom door. So, we took the plunge and bought him his very own big boy bed. He loves his bed - thinks it is so cool. He talks about it constantly and loves to jump on it. I know I know, he shouldn't be jumping on the bed, but that's a battle I choose not fight. I digress... So, he loves it, right??? He loves to everything in it BUT SLEEP. I mean for crying out loud, it's driving us crazy. Bless his heart - he was doing fairly well. Getting up a few times each night, but all I had to do was go up and say it's still nite nite time and he would do great. Now, however, the last week, he's not done so great. He's been up for several hours at a time and screams. I mean that boy can flat out wail. It is heartbreaking. We just don't know what to do. We've gone in and checked on him several times, get him calm, say some prayers, sing some songs, scratch his back...and then as soon as we walk out the screaming begins. So, we have let him "cry it out" - which has lasted 15 minutes, 12 minutes and less than that last night. It stinks!!! Then he falls asleep in the floor by his door. YIKES. So, if you're reading, please pray that we'll have patience and keep in mind that this too shall pass!

Beep Beep Chugga Chugga Big Red Car

Okay - you haven't experienced Rupp Arena until you experience it with 5000 or more 2-5 year olds!!!! We took our little noodle to Rupp to see the Wiggles in concert. The Wiggles are these 4 Austrailian guys who sing funny kids songs. Jacob was in awe - he just sat in our laps and stared the whole time! He danced a little, but mostly, he just stared at all the movement and laughed at Mommy and Daddy and baby Tay for dancing silly! Taylor ("tato") is Jacob's big cousin and one of his favorite people ever!

Jacob's favorite Wiggles song is "Beep Beep Chugga Chugga Big Red Car." What fun!

It's such a joy to experience these things through the eyes of your child. Never in a million years would either of us think we'd be going to Rupp for a Wiggles concert. After all, Rupp is ONLY for the BIG BLUE fans and just doesn't seem right without basketballs, cheerleaders and loud fans. But, I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade the Wiggles experience for anything in all the world. I feel so blessed to be Jacob's mommy and I'm so glad he has opportunities like this. Go Wiggles!!!

I want to blog too!!!

Well, my little brother told me a secret. He told me that mommy let him get on the computer last night to post a bloggy page, so I just had to do it too because after all, anything he can do, I can do it better. Let me tell you something - being 2 years old is way more fun than being 1. I mean, I'm so tall I can see just about everything. And boy, it is so exciting. It's really cool that I can open any drawer in the house - I especially like the one in the kitchen where mommy and daddy keep their keys, phones and wallets. I do love me some keys. You know what? They even have a button on their keys that when I push it, the cars in the garage go "beep beep beep beep" - how cool is that? Oh, and there is nothing better than a couple of cell phones. I like to call Ammie and Pa and Mamaw and Papaw. Sometimes, I really can hear them and they can hear me. Sometimes, I just push buttons and pretend. Can you tell I really like to push buttons? I like buttons - any buttons - they are just right for my little fingers. I like buttons on the computer, buttons on the tv, buttons in the car. I get all excited just writing about all the possibilities.

My life is full of fun right now. I just love to explore things. I also really like to dump things out of whatever container they are supposed to be in. I can unzip bags, I can take the tops of just about anything and I can empty a box of toys in about 2 seconds. One of my favorite things to say right now is "whoa a lot" - a lot of toys ,a lot of food, a lot of mess, a lot of cars... I'm really into quantifying everything.

I also am starting to put words together for sentences (that's what my mommy called them - I don't really understand that word though). I can say things like "mommy say no, no, no" and "wash hands soap" and "nite nite time in big boy bed" and "andy-tales house dark" and "go go go Nannys house"- I must say that it's cool to talk and be able to be understood most of the time. It sure makes like easier! I also know all my colors and some letters and numbers. Mommy and daddy quiz me all the time. I think that's a fun game! Sometimes, I think they just forget what the letters are, so I have to remind them.

I love my mommy and daddy and even my little brother most of the time. I even ask about him first thing in the morning. This morning, before anyone came to get me in my room, I was saying "baby, where are you???" I like to see him and I really like to make him laugh. He's a little weird - he laughs at the strangest things. Like when I shake my head or jump on the bed - he just thinks I'm hysterical. I think that's pretty cool.

Well, I better go before my mommy finds out I'm typing on her computer. I think I can find something fun to play with - maybe my legos? See ya soon!

I'm a guest blogger

Hi. My mommy told me to post a blog for her tonight. I know I should be sleeping, but life is just too exciting these days. I happen to LOVE LOVE LOVE my big brother and if he's up, I definitely want to be up. He's not, by the way - I can't hear him, so that means he's asleep in his room. I want to share a room with him so bad, but my mommy and daddy think I'll sleep better in the extra room for a while. For some reason, he likes to play in his room when he should be sleeping. I think it's supposed to be a secret, but it's really driving my mommy crazy!!! Really - don't tell anyone.

Let me tell you about life as an almost 6 month old little person. It is pretty cool! My mommy and daddy love me very much and any time I want something, they pretty much give it to me. Like food - my mommy is doing a great job feeding me. I have super chunky legs to prove it. My mommy and daddy both love to squeeze my big legs. I don't understand it, but it makes them smile, so I just laugh and smile in return. Oh - and I just love to roll around. I can get all the way across the room before my mommy even knows it. I'm super fast. One day, I'll be as fast as my big bubby. I also get really excited to hold on to stuff - anything really. I especially like me a hand full of mommy's hair. It feels really neat. I'm starting to like to put everything in my mouth too, so you better be careful what's in my reach. I don't have any teeth yet, but chewing on stuff sure feels good.

I have lots to say, but no one can quite understand me just yet. I learned to squeal just the other day. It really is the most fun sound. You should try it some time! Oh, I also learned to spit and make a buzzing sound - talk about advanced...

Life is good from my point of view. I make mommy smile all the time and I just smile right back because her face is so familiar and comfortable for me. I get super excited when my daddy's around too - I kick my legs and move my arms toward him. They don't know it yet, but I'm really reaching for them and saying "pick me up please."

We are a happy family. My mommy and daddy like each other a lot and they really like to play with me and my brother. I don't really know what this means yet, but we have so much for which to be thankful. I'm thankful for my mommy, daddy and my way-cool big brother. He's my best friend and he doesn't even know it yet - one day, I'll tell him just how much I admire and respect him.

Well, I really must sleep. Mommy thinks I need some sleep at nighttime - I guess she's right, but being awake is just so much fun!

Jacob does and says the most funny things. I was working today, and Daddy got to stay home. Daddy said he was in the kitchen and he kept hearing Jacob say "mommy say no, no, no." Daddy said he said it 5-6 times so he finally went in there to check on him. He found Jacob standing up on the red chair pointing to his "masterpiece." Yep, you guessed it, Jacob wrote on our wall with an ink pen.

He's right - if I'd been here, I would have said "no, no, no..." Always an adventure.

top ten things a two year old does during his day:
10) dumps out all the crayons in the floor only to "color" one picture
9) loves reading books - or looking at one or two pages then saying "nutter one"
8) asks for Pete (a character on Mickey Mouse)
7) turns his cool Mickey piano on and does the "finger dance" - it's quite the experience!
6) anything that's packaged neatly or put away in its place gets dumped - no matter how many times mommy or daddy put it back in its box
5) repeats EVERYTHING you say
4) says it over and over and over
3) pretends to "talk" to ammie and pa on the phone
2) asks for cheese crackers "cheese caccas"
1) jumps/climbs on everything possible - the more he climbs, the more he makes Jonathan laugh!!!!!

And one more for good measure - steals my heart every moment of the day! I love you little bug!!!!

Still no pictures...but always cute stories. On Sunday, October 26, Jacob said the sweetest thing! We were sitting at the table having family dinner - I'm sure buttered noodles were in the mix - and I said to Jacob,"I love you buddy." He say "love too mommy." IT WAS SO SWEET!!!! Totally melted my heart. I really do love all three of my boys so much - it's amazing to watch the boys grow and develop. Jacob's learning about ten new words each day it seems. he's also mr. independent - "i do it" or "big boy feet" - meaning he can walk down the stairs without any help are his favorite phrase. Here are a few of their favorite things:
Jacob:
the color yellow
pumpkins (pumpins)
cinnamon rolls (icing )
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE - he's really obsessed with the character Pete
his Mickey Piano - we have quite the fun dance parties at our house!
Tumble time - his new little class at the park
the moon
zippers
his big boy potty (we've managed to get pee in the potty one time - I think it was a fluke. )

Jonathan:
his big brother!!! He just laughs hysterically when Jacob jumps or bounces a ball
Mommy's milk. :-)
his exersaucer - he pushes all the little buttons
shiny things like ribbons
books - he's starting to hold the pages
his daddy's voice - he'll nearly break his neck to turn to see him when he hears him talking

Funny Times

We can't post pictures right now, but I just can't let this opportunity go without capturing it in writing... A lot has changed at our house since last posting to this blog. We are no longer a family of three. Baby Jonathan Patrick Stover entered the world on May 30. He is a joy and a delight. Really probably the easiest baby EVER! He is very sweet and HUGE. He weighs in at just shy of 17 pounds and he's not yet 5 months old. He's 2 pounds bigger than his brother was at this age. :-) Hooray for Mommy's milk. Jonathan loves, adores, can't get enough of his big brother! He watches every move Jacob makes, which is both sweet and scary! Jacob is definitely a 2 year old. Full of energy and independence. One of his favorite phrases is "i do it." Except he doesn't say it in a sweet quiet voice - he shrieks it LOUDLY!!!

Other notable changes in our household:
Jacob's in the BIG BOY BED! It was quite traumatic for all of us, but he made it. He loves his big boy bed, but just doesn't always want to stay in it. Lucky for mommy, he goes right back to sleep if I come up stairs when he starts crying. For daddy, it's another story. Jacob wants to be picked up, rocked, sung to...hmmmmm.

Jacob is also now totally paci free. We're in the midst of that transition as we speak. We said goodbye to our friends the pacis on Friday (3 days ago.) The verdict is still out as to how we'll make it through this phase.

We're also the proud owners of a brand new mini-van - and we love it. Two kids pack quite a bit of stuff, so it's been great. We feel like real grown-ups now!

Now, for the good stuff...tonight was one of my most favorite moments ever - in my whole life, this definitely makes the top ten list!!!!! All four of us were up on our bed ("mommydaddy's bed"). Daddy was holding Jonathan and Jacob was wollering (is that even a word???) all over me. Jacob started being silly and shaking his head - Jonathan was laughing hysterically. I mean full out belly laughing , face turning red, till you start hiccuping laughing. Of course, Jacob was quick to oblige when we told him to keep being silly. All four of us were just cracking up. It was priceless. I honestly haven't laughed that long or hard in a long time. Just the simple moments like that remind me how very very blessed we are to have each other - to feel safe and secure in our home with the ones we love. Oh how I love being a mommy - I pray for many more fun filled evenings hanging out on "mommydaddy's bed" with my three blessings from God.

Just hangin out...looking chunky...I mean hunky!

Here's Bitterson - just hanging out with mommy while daddy is at work. Today, Jacob had a little trouble going down for a nap, so we just hung out in the big play room. He found daddy's video game chair and I couldn't resist getting a picture of it - it cracked me up - is it just me or does he look SOOOO chunky??? We sent this picture to Daddy at work and it made him smile.

Pooh.....

Jacob was given a new puzzle from Mommy and Daddy. He was getting so good at all his other puzzles we decided to get him a new puzzle....2 of his favorite shows are Mickey and Pooh. Pictured is Jacob working his Pooh puzzle....he already has it figured out.

Easter goodies....

We celebrated Easter at our aunt and uncle's house. Jacob's aunt Amy brought him an Easter basket full of goodies. His favorite Easter gift was probably the puzzle.

Easter Sunday....

Today is Easter Sunday. What an exciting day! Today is the day that Jesus rose from his grave. We pray that Jacob comes to know Christ as his Lord and Savior....that will be the very most important decision he will ever make. Pictured aunt Rachee takes our picture after Sunday School and tries to make Jacob smile - usually after church he just wants to "go go go" meaning explore all over the hallway, push the water fountain, pull the magazines off the shelf...

Easter egg hunt....

Jacob, Mommy, and Jacob's cousin Taylor went to Cave City for an Easter egg hunt. Jacob had so much fun finding the eggs. Pictured Jacob found an egg in the gutter, and Grammy and Pa helped Jacob find an egg in the bushes. Taylor had fun finding and hiding eggs as well. Taylor made Jacob something to hang on the door and every time Jacob sees it, he says "A - Or" which stands for Taylor in his language.

Home from church....

Today when we got home from church Jacob was being such a good boy. He was talking and laughing and so we decided to take his picture. Mommy went up to dress Jacob for church and when she came down, Jacob matched his Daddy (most of the times it is on purpose, but this day it actually wasn't). Jacob is so precious!

Puzzle time....

One of Jacob's favorite things to do is work puzzles. He is very good at them! It's so much fun watching him work puzzles....almost everyone in our family likes to work puzzles, so Jacob is learning at an early age.

Jacob is learning every day....

Jacob is learning so much. Pictured Jacob has decided to draw a picture in one of Mommy's magazines. Mommy is searching for a couple of pens....has anyone seen them???

Open, open, open.....

Jacob loves to find things that open. No matter what it is he trys to figure out how to get it open. Pictured Jacob has found some lotion. He also found some dental floss. It is so cute hearing him say "ema ema ema" which means open, open, open in his language.

March Sadness....Cubs Madness.....

It's March Madness time, however this year it could be March Sadness for KY fans. On a positive note (if you are a Cubs fan like Jacob and his Daddy and Mommy) we have high expectations that this will be the year! It's been 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series, so the Cubs are due! Jacob has plenty of Cubs outfits :)

Cubs and Cats....

It's almost March (spring training), and Jacob is already wearing one of his many Cubs outfits. Pictured here Jacob is not only supporting the Cubs but he is sitting in his UK rocking chair. For some reason he has his paci in.....he must of found one that Daddy and Mommy hid.

Hot, hot, hot.....

Jacob still loves bath time. He has a lot of bath toys and just loves to play in the bathtub. He is so funny. Almost every time we put him in the bathtub he says "hot hot hot" even though the water is not hot. Nothing to him is just "hot".....everything is hot, hot, hot.

spider-man underwear.....

It was almost bath time this night in February when Jacob needed a diaper change. Since it was almost bath time, Daddy surprised Mommy by putting on Jacob's spider-man underwear that Jacob received last Christmas. Mommy laughed so much when she saw Jacob....he was so funny......Daddy accidentally put them on backwards.

Snuggle time....

One of Daddy's favorite things to do is snuggle with Jacob. Jacob is getting so big that he doesn't like to be held very long, but Daddy sure does take advantage of it when he lets me.

Happy Valentine's Day....

Jacob helps Daddy open his Valentine Day gifts from Mommy. Jacob would love to get into Daddy's candy. Daddy also got a baseball magazine. Daddy hopes Jacob will grow up to be a Cubs fan. This is going to be the Cubs year!

Jacob's first snow day.....

Today we took Jacob out in the snow for the first time! He was so cute. We had so many clothes on him that he could barely even walk. Jacob did not want to come in. He loves being outside. Papaw finally admits that Shelbyville got SNOW!!!! About a month later, we got ANOTHER big snow.....Papaw can finally enjoy driving in snow.

Dinner time....

Jacob has always been such a good eater. This picture was taken in January 0f 2008 after one of his meals. He loves yogurt (or as he would say go-go) and he also loves mac & cheese (just like his mommy). He will also eat mac & butter (like his daddy). Infact, there is not much he will not eat. Daddy had fun messing up his hair in these pictures.....

It's time to celbrate the birth of Jesus!!!

Mommy took several pictures of Jacob by the Christmas tree and used them as Christmas cards. Jacob is so cute as he walks around the Christmas tree looking at all the lights and ornaments. At first he didn't touch....but a day later, there were ornaments found mysteriously all over the floor. We pray that Jacob will come to love the Lord with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength.

A new tradition...

We have been so blessed to have Mrs. Mary and her family watch Jacob during the week. Jacob loves to visit with his friends. We are starting a new tradition this year, and we hope to have the Wisley family over each year around Thanksgiving, as a reminder of how thankful we are of them. Mr. Mike just told Jacob that IU was better than UK and you can see Jacob's reaction.....

Trip to WV.....

We went to West Virginia to visit our family. Jacob has so many cousins and 2nd cousins to play with. Here we are taking our picture with Jacob's great-grandmother, Mamaw Stover. Mamaw has been blessed with so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jacob's first haircut....

Today Daddy and Mommy took Jacob to get his first haircut. He was such a good boy. He didn't cry, but he did want his paci.....he is still recovering from the black eye he got when he fell down....boys will be boys.

Trick or Treat.....

Jacob had so much fun watching all the little tricker-treaters this year. Jacob dressed up like one of his favorite cartoon characters....tigger. Grammy and Pa and Mamaw and Papaw came to see Jacob as "tigger". We also took Jacob up to FBC and we had his picture taken with the Cowardly Lion (Paul Sims) and cute little Dorthy (Meghan Sims). I promise that is the one and only time I will ever call Paul cowardly......

Daddy's shirt is to big.....

We are going to have Jacob put this shirt of Daddy's on every year to see how much he grows. He was so cute trying to walk with the shirt on....he kept tripping over the sleeves. Before we know it, one of these years, this shirt will fit him.